After the Christmas festivities, football will return with a bang on Boxing Day, with the Premier League taking centre stage once again.
It’s not just the top flight sides who will be in action, however. Every single team in the Football League is booked in to play, meaning there is plenty of potential for change in the league tables.
There’s also action in Scotland and there are a number of subplots to keep an eye on all across the two countries on Thursday afternoon, from football legends clashing to a managerial debut.
Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT picks out five things to look out for on the big day…
Wayne meets Frank
Top billing on Boxing Day comes in the West Midlands at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
For the first time in their careers, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard face off as managers. Both have found management a far tougher nut to crack than playing, where Lampard edged the head-to-head, winning 12 of their 28 meetings. Rooney won 10.
Wayne Rooney (left) and Frank Lampard (right) will go head to head in the dugout on Thursday
Rooney is in charge of Plymouth in the Championship, while Lampard has just taken over at Coventry in the same division
Lampard may have taken just seven points from his first five games since succeeding Mark
Robins at Coventry but it is Rooney, seven games without a win, who is under the microscope. ‘I have known Wayne for many years now, have full respect for him, and I look forward to seeing him,’ Lampard said this week.
‘It was an absolute pleasure to play with him for England. He is a Premier League and England great, and his numbers and performances should never be understated. He was incredible.’
Nolan tunes up
Speaking of Premier League legends, how about Kevin Nolan taking charge of Northampton for the first time on Boxing Day?
The former West Ham, Bolton and Newcastle midfielder has not been a manager since 2018 and is walking into a club that has lost its last three games by an aggregate score of 11-0, and are two points clear of the relegation zone in League One.
First up is a trip to Reading, and Nolan is hoping to make Northampton more difficult to break down. ‘We’ll be working hard to make sure we go to Reading to be the best version of ourselves, being a lot more diligent and harder to beat and trying to create more chances than we have,’ he said.
Kevin Nolan is set to take charge of his first game as Northampton manager this Boxing Day
Barry’s farewell tour
League one’s form team meet League One’s top scorers as Huddersfield host Stockport.
County hotshot Louie Barry is heading back to Aston Villa after his loan spell, but not until a three- game farewell tour, starting at a Huddersfield side who have taken 20 points from their last 24.
Bescot promotion duel
The pick of the games in League Two is undoubtedly two promotion favourites locking horns as Walsall host Doncaster.
Each of Doncaster’s last five games on Boxing Day have finished 3-0 either way, so expect goals.
Derby day in Edinburgh
For all the attention the Old Firm get, few games in Scottish football are as good as Edinburgh derbies.
Neil Critchley’s Hearts have home advantage. They know a win secures bragging rights — and takes them above Hibs in the table.
